For American Crypto Traders, Inflation Is Changing the Equation

Our latest OKX Insights survey found that 49% of respondents say they've moved further into crypto since January 2026, and 90% express concerns about dollar erosion.

Dollar anxiety is no longer a fringe view. American crypto investors are expressing concern about the future purchasing power of the US dollar, and changes in how they allocate their portfolios may reflect that.

In April 2026, we surveyed 1,000 Americans who invest in crypto. The results reveal a market reshaping itself around inflation concerns and a generational shift in how investors think about assets.

Ninety percent of respondents said they are concerned the US dollar will significantly lose purchasing power over the next five years. The sharper number: 45% chose "extremely concerned," making dollar anxiety the most common response in the survey.

The concern is sharpest among Millennials. Forty-nine percent of that cohort described themselves as "extremely concerned" about dollar purchasing power, above Gen Z (44%), Gen X (39%), and Boomers (32%).

Respondents reported notable shifts in their crypto allocations over the past six months. Nearly half (49%) said they increased their crypto holdings in response to inflation concerns, with more than a quarter saying they did so within the last month alone.

The scale of those changes varied. Forty percent said they moved more than 10% of their portfolio into crypto during this period. Fifteen percent said they moved more than 20%. How respondents characterize those moves differs, but the frequency and size of reported reallocation suggest inflation concerns are a meaningful factor in portfolio decision-making.

Respondents were also asked how they characterize Bitcoin. Forty-seven percent said they view it primarily as a store of value; 16% said the opposite. Among those who hold the store-of-value view, 33% said that conviction has strengthened since the start of 2026.

On the longer-term outlook, 73% said they expect crypto to play a larger role in the global financial system a decade from now. Three percent said they view it as a passing trend.

According to survey respondents, gold was cited as the most trusted wealth-preservation asset overall at 32%, with Bitcoin second at 26%. Among Gen Z, that order reverses: Bitcoin leads gold 28% to 21%. Younger cohorts entering peak earning years appear more likely to rank Bitcoin above gold as a wealth-preservation asset.

Methodology: Survey of 1,000 Americans who trade cryptocurrency, conducted in April 2026. Results are directional and reflect the views of active crypto participants, not the broader US adult population.

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